7 May 2020 12:01 am
The United States has announced the commitment of more than US$ 4.5 million to help Sri Lanka in its fight against COVID-19 bringing the total US contribution to US$ 5.8 million.
“This assistance continues the long tradition of US support for Sri Lanka’s security and sovereignty,” said US Envoy to Sri Lanka Alaina B. Teplitz. “Over the past 20 years, US assistance in Sri Lanka was amounting to more than US$ 1 billion, including US$ 26 million for health.”
This assistance, channeled through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), includes US$ 2 million to increase social services for areas and populations most impacted by the crisis, and support for activities that build social cohesion. Another US$ 2 million will strengthen small and medium enterprises and increase women’s economic participation. As part of the newly-announced assistance, the United States is also providing US$ 590,000 in humanitarian assistance that will support vulnerable people during the pandemic.
This is on top of the funding the US Government which has already provided multilateral and non-governmental organizations (NGOs), are helping communities around the world to deal with the pandemic. Months into fighting COVID-19 at home and abroad, the United States remains the largest single country donor to the response efforts globally.
In addition to this direct US government funding, our All-of-America approach is helping people around the world through the generosity of American private businesses, non-profit groups, charitable organizations, faith-based organizations and individuals. Together, Americans have committed an estimated nearly US$ 6.5 billion in government and non-government donations and assistance in the global COVID-19 response.